Your May Reset: Starting Fresh and Setting Goals with Intention
Simple steps to stay focused and maximize your potential each month
I’ve always been someone who thrives on clean slates —new weeks, new months, new years. I love the feeling of a fresh slate where I have the chance to refocus on what I am working towards. For me, a monthly reset is my favorite kind of reset because it really maps out and sets the tone for your next 4 weeks. Look at it this way, if you don’t have a plan for the month, how are you supposed to measure progress and adjust each week? The same goes for the day-to-day. A lot of people, myself included, get lost in the grind of work or the routines of daily life and lose sight of the big picture. What do I want? What am I working towards? Are my actions aligned with my goals?
Every month is a new page in your journey. With last month's lessons in hand, let’s write your next chapter with intention.
Why Goal Setting Has Become a Non-Negotiable for Me
I am a huge believer in goal setting in all aspects of your life. If you’re not working towards something, how are you truly present, how are you growing, how do you expect change or improvement? Without goals, you have no direction and nothing to measure your growth (or lack thereof) against. I have realized when I am not striving to achieve something I often find myself in a state of comparison that is extremely degrading. Instead of building my own path, I start measuring myself against everyone else.
As life gets busier and time moves faster, I’ve realized that goal setting matters more than ever. I want to accomplish a lot in my life and the only way to make that happen is by setting clear targets and tracking my progress. The same goes for you. Whether you’re working toward a promotion, saving up for a house, losing weight, training for a race — whatever it is — define it, commit to it, and start measuring it. If you’re not tracking it, you’re guessing. And if you’re guessing, you’re not growing.
The Power of a Clean Slate
I believe the start of a new month offers a powerful psychological reset. It’s a clear, defined point in time where you can pause, reflect, and realign with your goals. It’s your chance to set new ones, build on existing ones, and pinpoint where you are in terms of progress.
At the end of every month, I sit down with my journal ask myself: What worked? What didn’t? Where did I lose momentum? What are some areas I could improve in? This 30-minute check-in always shifts my perspective. It reminds me where to tighten things up, where to give myself grace, and what I actually want out of the next 30 days.
This small pause makes a big difference and it's exactly why I think month-to-month transitions matter so much. I see month-to-month transitions as a pause in the chaos — a moment to revisit the drawing board. A clean slate that lets you wash away what didn’t work, pivot toward what serves you better, and move forward with more clarity and intention.
A month is a building block of your year. It’s long enough to make real progress, short enough to stay focused, and structured enough to create momentum. Whether you're continuing something you've started or shifting directions, a new month gives you space to refocus, adjust, and build with purpose. So if you’re ready to reset this month with clarity, here’s how to do it in a way that actually sticks.
How to Set Sustainable Goals with Intention
Everyone has a different approach to goal setting, but for me, the most important thing is to keep it simple, attainable, and focused more on intent than numbers. In the past, I’ve done myself a disservice by setting too many goals in too short a time span. I’ve learned that setting unrealistic goals can be more damaging than not setting any at all. Instead of feeling motivated, it can leave you overwhelmed, anxious, disappointed, and defeated when you’re staring at a long list of things you didn’t accomplish. Here’s how I set goals in a way that’s simple, doable, and actually lasts.
My Key to Successful Goal Setting:
1. Choose 1–3 clear focuses.
Start by getting clear on what actually matters to you: What do I want long-term — and why? (If you read my first article, you know I always come back to your why.) Once you’re clear on that, ask: What are 1–3 things I can realistically accomplish in the next 30 days that will move me closer to that bigger vision?
2. Be extremely specific.
This is where a lot of people go vague — “eat healthier,” “be more consistent,” “make more money.” But vague goals lead to vague results. Instead, be clear on the what. Change “eat better” to something like “cook at home three nights a week.” Turn “be more consistent” into “lift four days a week before 8am.” Specific goals give you something to act on and track.
3. Create an action plan and anticipate obstacles.
Once your goals are specific, you need a real plan. You don’t have to map out every detail, but you do need to know how you’ll show up, especially when life gets messy. Ask yourself: What does this look like on a Monday? A Thursday? During a busy week? And think ahead about obstacles — travel, fatigue, self-doubt, schedule changes — because they will come up. Having a plan makes it way more likely you’ll stick it out when things get tough.
4. Write them down and keep them visible.
Put them somewhere you’ll actually see them daily. I like to put mine on my mirror so I see them first thing in the morning and before bed. It’s a small thing, but it’s a constant reminder of what I’m building toward.
"A goal without a plan is just a wish." — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Goal setting isn't just about ambition, it's about building consistency, direction, and daily action. When you have a clear plan, you have direction. You don’t have to wake up every day guessing what matters or where your energy should go. You just show up over and over again, and that consistency builds momentum.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about having something to come back to when life gets busy, messy, or overwhelming. Without a plan, it’s way too easy to drift. With a plan, even your messy days are still pointing you in the right direction.
What are your 1–3 focuses for May? I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Write them down, keep them visible, and let this month be your clean slate —not just for starting, but for building. You got this!
P.S. If you found this helpful, forward it to a friend who’s ready for a fresh start this May :)
Love these tips on goals! I know what I’m doing tonight.